L.A. PARKER: There goes Peter Cottontail!

In an exclusive interview the world’s most popular rabbit announced his desire to set the record straight about his sexual habits with other rabbits.

Seriously, though, I don’t know what to make of Assembly candidate Steve Cook’s declaration about his sex life. I admire his honesty but Americans salivate about sex talk with such interest that we begin to lose focus on real issues.

Politics is beginning to represent a ginormous coming out party for everyone from former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey to former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

Sanford, a heterosexual, (sounds stupid, right?) in 2009, told staffers he had escaped for a five-day hike on the Appalachian Trail when instead he had headed off to Argentina for a romp with his mistress.

McGreevey’s truth be told an 2004 admission that he was “a gay American.”

In a not so sudden turnaround as pundits want you to believe, more Americans seem ready for acceptance of gay marriage, lesbians, transgenders, bisexuals, gays, heterosexuals and fruit flies.

Sure, something wonderful occurs when a person feels comfortable with their bodies, especially when society accepts them as normal. Freedom rejoices each time a person confesses alcoholism, drug addiction, or any other substance abuse.

However, while those admissions suggest a problem, we are off target to suggest such a situation with gender issues. As an overbearing friend interjects, it is what it is. In this case, you are who you are and the world should accept you as a potential valuable human being.

Cook reportedly sought advice about his coming out from gay Assemblyman Reed Gusciora.

According to a published report, Gusciora told Cook that if his sexual status came out without previous disclosure, “it would look like it was something to hide.”

That sounds off the mark, I mean, should sexual preference questions be directed toward leaders who live single lives, are never seen in the company of opposite sex members, or if they are always seen in the company of same-sex friends.

Forget about a tax increase to balance the budget, mayor, we want to know if you like women or men. I don’t come from that school of thought that accepts gay men or women as long as they do not show public signs of affection.

Those beliefs represent a throwback to Archibald Bunker and his “All in the Family” sitcom that covered just almost every social concern, including homophobia. Everyone is wrong thinking that America made a quick about face regarding sexual preference.

People lived in shadows, others committed suicide, some were murdered. Gay rights issues left a trail of mayhem, blood and unconscionable behavior by those who feared others because they embraced a different definition of love for self and lovers.

Just yesterday, Rutgers University fired men’s head basketball Coach Mike Rice after a video surfaced, In it, Rice delivered a torrent of unacceptable behavior, including a tirade when he appeared to say, “You f’’king fairy ... you’re a f’’king fa**ot.

Those words are not signals of a changing society, In fact, Rice will receive support from a legion of men who find nothing wrong with his words. So, while we claim progress, our reality must include an understanding that a significant group of people harbor a hardness in their hearts for diversity.

More than two years ago, Tyler Clementi, a gay freshman at Rutgers, committed suicide after his roommate spied on him with another man. Obviously, there is more work to be done.

Understandably, an admission of being a member of a minority sexual group most assuredly cultivates criticism. So, coming out becomes not only a personal acceptance but also includes speculation of trouble ahead.

The criteria for holding an honored position as a human being or government leader should never include sexual preference. Instead, we must stay close to a belief that respect, truth, courage, personal responsibility, and love, remain hallmarks for membership in our human race.

If Cook, or any other candidate, gay or straight, even the Easter Bunny, can proclaim an interest in moving forward all people, then we should be willing to listen without prejudice.

L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@Trentonian.com.